Torild Stray is an authentic painter dealing with subtle, raw and deeply human subject matter in her work. Through timeless tangible figurations in oils and charcoal, as well as prints and watercolors, she makes powerful healing images that offer an alternative imaginary space for other possibilities. Stray’s way of putting an image together is both spontaneous and rigorous. She believes painting is highly significant and has a huge impact on our culture, especially now the digital age has flooded the art world and our lives with imagery: “The value in painting lies in the fact that it maintains the human touch and bodily understanding, which is so crucial for culture to thrive.”

Torild Stray’s vision, commitment and work as a painter have brought critical acclaim as well as a strong international following of collectors. She has been the recipient of various awards, scholarships and stipends, including The Agnes Gund (MoMa) Award, a New York Times Scholarship, The Scandinavian Society Cultural Award, the Charles H. Revson Fellowship and a fellowship with The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Artist in Residence Program where she painted New York City from both the 85th and 91st floors of one of the twin towers formerly known as One World Trade Center.

Following extensive travels in South East Asia, Stray attended The University of Bergen, The Nordic School of Art in Finland and was accepted at Valand Art Academy in Sweden and The New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture.

Stray recently had a survey exhibition at the Oseana Art & Culture Centre (Norway), a drawing performance on site at the Armory Art Basel (New York) in 2018. Her work has been on view at the Sideshow Gallery (New York), the Governors Island Art Fair (New York), Bergen Contemporary Art Project, Galleri Langegården (Norway) and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (New York).

Her work is held in the collections of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (New York), the New York Federal Reserve Bank, the Grieg Foundation (Norway) and the Birger Mowinckel collection (Norway).

She has an active studio in an old steel cutting factory in Bergen and divides her time between Norway and New York.